SWA Awarded a Hazardous Materials Instructor Training Grant by the DOT

The Sustainable Workplace Alliance has been awarded a Hazardous Materials Instructor Training grant by the Department of Transportation through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The Sustainable Workplace Alliance will deliver training in 22 locations throughout the United States and its territories including Puerto Rico and Guam.

Since its inception in 2008, the HMIT program has been instrumental in developing hazmat trainers to then return to work and train their hazmat employees in-house. "Enhancing the safe transport of hazardous materials by highway, rail, water, and air is one of the Department's top priorities," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. "These grants are force multipliers in helping communities get more local first responders and employees prepared for transportation incidents involving hazardous materials." This has resulted in safer methods of transporting hazmat products and thus, a safer workplace.

The Sustainable Workplace Alliance is entering its fifth year as a recipient of the HMIT grant. Its continued focus is providing these classes to private and public sector, non-union workers who handle, package or transport hazmat across the United States as we have over the past three years. The 2017-18 program will target hazmat trainers that are responsible for training their hazmat employees in the production, warehousing and freight sectors. The Sustainable Workplace Alliance will conduct three specific classes designed to help individuals become more familiar with regulations, accident response, and how to effectively teach others.

“The mission of the Sustainable Workplace Alliance has, and always will be, to protect America’s most important resource – it’s workers, from environmental, health and safety hazards”, related David Casavant, project director of the Sustainable Workplace Alliance. “We are pleased to be able to assist the Department of Transportation and PHMSA in their efforts to educate the public and reduce injuries and illnesses.”